Rumors - $399 40gig PS3 Coming Soon, FFXIII Could be Delayed Until Late 08, PS3 Achievements

The latest edition of Game Informer magazine finally hit the stands. It contains quiet a lot of juicy new information. They have an exclusive first look at an upcoming game called "Prototype" which is due out on the PS3/360 next year. Details will be published soon.

According Game Informer magazine, a $399 40gig PS3 system is on the way, but it will have no backwards compatibility. They actually expected to hear the announcement at E3 on it. So they may have just heard different rumblings altogether.

[360Sheep]

uh oh.. what is that, sku #4? in direct competition with the premium, i be the 360 will get a price drop before this model drops, well at least it better

[big_tim]

if this is true, they are going crazy with the SKU's. They need to stick to one or two and adjust the price accordingly. As for the BC, I think they meant without the EE chip.

[Wolfgang187]

Too many SKUs spoil the soup! Without trying to sound too pompous the average consumer isn't too bright and adding a dose of confusion to the decision to buy a gaming console is just a stupid thing to do.

[risk]

i think a cheaper alternative would be...the same thing as a 60gb ps3, except without a hard drive, i know id pick that up and buy my own 200GB HD and put that bay in there.

[Marceles]

Even though I doubt this rumor is true...why even include a hard drive in the PS3 if you're going to keep shipping different SKUs with different hard drive storages?. In that case, just ship PS3s with no hard drives and with or without wireless and the extra slots and have people buy their own hard drive. People are already confused with the rumors and new SKUs and bundles, let's confuse them even more...

[360Sheep]

you need a hard drive in each and every single sku, that way a developer will know that every single person that will purchase the game has that option available, that way when in development, they can use the hard drive in the development process. If it does not, then the developer has to program for the lowest common denominator, the problem that the GTAIV developers are having.

it was a reply to both you and risk,

[erosevaporator]

That's what I did when my sore that I pre-ordered from didn't get as many 60 gigs as they thought. I now have a 200 gig ps3, lol. Who cares about wireless internet anyhow. It's much better playing with a wire, than having to deal with lag. I figure I saved a hundred bucks, and then spent it on m more space than lots of people have. It just seemed like the sane thing to do.

[Marceles]

I was being sarcastic

[Skynetone]

i think they can figure out that there paying more for a larger hd

theres a big difference between the 360 skus

[Synex]

You can't ship the PS3 without a HDD, that's a major thing with Blu-ray. It helps loads times, and allows for better graphics, because games are using the HDD to download certian files to it. Also, PS3 games already use the HDD, so it's not viable.

[sony fan]

I can't believe they tried to tell people it was worth 600 dollars. Well they know better, If I didn't have a 360 I'd be pissed about not being able to use my PS3 for anything but poor quality blur-ray movies till others got a better version for cheaper. By the way, ignorant gamers have no idea about the extra storage the 360 has which acts like a hard drive in all 360 even the core. Look it up.

[Omegasyde]

@raptors @rusgreim

You sure about that HD percentage?

If so what about after the Holidays?

What about the U.S. Government maaking HD standard soon?

What about the increase of regular (local) and suscription channels all switching to High definition broadcasting?

Sony makes movies also and gets a cut from it. What about that profit from Blue ray Sales?

What if HD DVD dies before the end of year?

........Not playing the devil's advocate, but Blue ray is selling way more in Europe than HD DVD. Also to say that HD Tv's aren't going to be popular soon is trully ignorant. Especially the sales that coming during the month of December and after the Holiday Season.

Also producing movies in mass production probally cost Sony 1/8 of what the price that they sell the Movie at.

Granted, that the profit from Columbia,MGM,Tristar won't go to Sony Computer, but to Sony in whole. If say Sony is selling and losing profit from every Ps3 for blue ray and not games, the company will make it back in some means in another department.

If Sony could get their head out of their "@$$" they would merge Sony Online Entertainment (station.com, Soe.com) and do that Video in demand
with thier own studio's atleast....they might break even some day.

[neogeo]

they are selling off the last of the 20gigs.
only a few left in downtown San Francisco

now gimmy a bubble for that info

[TriggerHappy]

There is already the rumor that the 360 will drop $100 across all SKU's

[Syko]

I would for sure buy a PS3 for $399. No question about it I would run out and get it the day it was announced.

[Boink]

not going to happen...

[drtysouf21]

Then the 2 remaining sku's would probably be 40GB for $399 and 80GB for $499 which in my opinion would be a great deal. People wanting blu-ray more then video games would opt to purchase the 40GB model because they won't care for backwards compatibility and people opting for video games will go for the 80GB model.

One of the things that makes sense about this is Sony has the PS3 and the new BDP-S300 Blu-ray Player priced the same at $499 so in a sense they are competing with themselves but to have the PS3 as the lowest priced blu-ray player on the market gives them the chance to increase the PS3 install base at the same time getting more Blu-ray hardware out into the market.

Guess we'll soon see if its true or not.

Edit: @rusgreim. I see your logic but i think that Sony wants to get the hardware out there first and then try to bring over the blu-ray only buyers to the video game side which if they market it correctly shouldn't be that hard of a task. For example Stranglehold comes with the movie and the game. They may do that with say Spiderman 3. Or start including PS3 game demos on some blu-ray movies and so forth.

[Syko]

A $400 would be a killer blow to MS, Granted I think it would only even things up for a while because Sony couldn't drop the price any lower for a while. And MS could drop AGAIN before Sony if really needed. Even still a $400 PS3 would sell very, very, well. I don't need or want backwards compatability anyways. Just get the price down to $400. Hell put a 10gig HDD for all I care I will upgrade it later.

All that said, I don't see this happening at all.

[rusgreim]

... but you had better hope and pray there are very few users purchasing the PS3 as a Blu Ray player. Why?

Because if the long running trend on video game consoles holds true, then Sony is likely losing money on the PS3. Not as much as they were at first, but its long been the case that the console is sold at a loss to get the console on the market and then make up the loss through video game licensing.

People buying the console for a Blu-Ray player means no games. No games means no revenue stream from licensing. No games means no attach rate. No attach rate means a loss of exclusives and lack of third party support.

You Sony folks might look at the number of consoles sold as a large indicator, but if people really are buying them as anything other than a gaming platform, that is bad news for Sony.

[Amplifier]

@rusgreim

Um...Sony proved that wrong 7 years ago with a little system called the Playstation 2...I am sure you have heard about it.

I sure hope that it doesn't come down to this multiple SKUs because it would just flood the retail space and confuse consumers more...I do hope that Sony has bigger plans for the holidays just not this option.

@mp

[okcomputer]

If the original "budget" ps3 was a failure that ultimately got discontinued, why would sony opt for an even more stripped down version with no backwards compatibility (albeit with a bigger hd) and make the same mistake twice? Their best bet imo is to further drop the price of the 60gb to $450 for the holidays, wait until the 60gb inventory is all sold out then drop the price of the 80gb model to $500 and establish the 80gb as the "final" and only ps3 model and move on from there.

[suedester]

It's not further stripped down, it has wifi and the memory slots so is basically the premium model minus 20gb and the EE chip. Presuming it exists at all that is. Not bad for $399.

[Primetimebt]

Even if the playstation 3 is used for a blu ray player Sony it still getting its commission from blu ray movies. It's win/win for sony no matter how you look at it.

[Raptors]

Wow, Rusgriem just spoke some real talk and a bunch of you disagreed. It amazes me at the mentality of some of you on this site. You can't compare what the ps2 did with dvd to ps3 and bluray. VHS to DVD was pretty drastic in picture quality, not to mention the size convenience over tapes and the ability to jump scenes. Now, there's only 25% of homes with HDTV's, DVD's have pretty much penetrated the market and while HD DVD is all but dead it's still lingering and doing pretty well in Europe. Game companies make larger profit margins on games, accessories, and online market places. Hence the whole attach rate rant Microsoft keeps boasting about.

[darknight69ay]

With no backwards compatability? Never. Won't happen. I can see them get rid of the wi fi, card readers, and maybe even downsize the components, but backwards compatability? There would be no point,cuz xbox is cheaper and yet still plays original xbox games.

[Arkham]

I think someone was confused the lack of an EE chip with no compatibility whatsoever.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a $399 40GB version with no pack-in to go along with the 80GB model.

Don't forget, Harrison said during a video interview after the Home/Little Big Planet unveiling that the PS3 would eventually move to software-only emulation and the EE chip would be disabled, I guess only assuming they reached the same or better level of compatibility. It was in one of the Game Trailers interviews I think.

[clownfacemcgee]

Better than the EE? It's impossible to emulate the Emotion Engine better than the Emotion Engine. You might be able to run PS2/PS games better with software emulation than with the Emotion Engine, although hard to imagine since they were designed specifically around the EE.

But you can't emulate the EE better than the EE, because in the case of any discrepancies, the EE is automatically right. It's like copying someone. You can't be a better copy than the person you're copying.

[the greatest]

now i can get 2 more and change the hard drive

[SF49er408]

this is good, it keeps gettin cheaper and cheaper. i def aint gonna buy it for 499 or 599

[clownfacemcgee]

Then you definitely wouldn't buy the 360 Elite for $479. It's only $20 less.

[SIX]

I think it would be a good idea.

[Blankman]

399 for 40GB not bad. Noticed they said no backward compatibility. Does this mean no software emulation either?

Sony can go as low as they want on the hard drive and just advertise you can basically change this out. This is pretty good selling point for the ps3 since 360 hard drive is limited to 20Gb or 120Gb but for ps3 you can basically buy whatever you want and essentially its cheaper than the 120GB

[GoLeafsGo]

Say it aint so!

Or if it is, KH3 hits stores early '08 =D!

[felidae]

the ps3 will fly off shelves.

[Auron]

thats a big time bummer! Please tell me I'm wrong so how are people supposed to play the Final Fantasy X's I star in? oh, and dont forget about Kingdom Hearts 2 I'm also in there!

[Lumbo]

ever heard of software emulation ? its the way those games run fine on EU PS3s ... *rolleyes* the 80gig SKU is also lacking the EE chips.

As Sony by now manages the backward compatibility by software emulation i fail to see how a SKU without that could exist, smells of bad source and completely misinformed one, too.

[mikeslemonade]

Sony should make a no HDD PS3, with no memory slots, no backards compatable but through emulation and price that at $299. Then you just need to buy a 2.5 HDD sata drive for cheap.

[Auron]

for saying such foolishness.

[pwnsause]

I thought backward compatibility was software, not hardware, they basically mistranslated themselves there

[DrRage77]

quite interesting. if sony does come out with yet another ps3 sku (vaguely remember sony ripping on microsoft for having multiple sku's and it being "too confusing" to the consumer), and offers it for $400 then it will probably sell quite well, especially since i still think that a lot of people that want a ps3 are still waiting for a price drop to go below the $499 pricetag.

as for backwards compatibility, i really don't see how this would be eliminated. people are saying the EE chip will be removed (already confirmed), but the backwards compatibility is software driven for the ps3's that no longer carry the EE chip....so how in the world would sony NOT offer backwards compatibility in a $399 ps3 version?? that part makes zero sense to me, unless i am overlooking something completely obvious.

as for achievements, if they are going to copy the microsoft acheivement system, then they should also require developers to incorporate them into EVERY game...it seems kind of silly to only have acheivements in some games and not others.

either way, ps3 at $399 is good for all the sony fans that have been waiting patiently for a real pricecut. both systems should have pricecuts before the holidays which is going to make this holiday season a record for console gaming sales (hardware and games)

[Shaka2K6]

Rumors are just that Rumors and Rumors never come true.

[Gil]

"Rumors are just that Rumors and Rumors never come true."

Are you a complete moron? At one time the 360 was just a rumor, but I've had one for over a year. Same thing with the PS3, it was once just a rumor, but I'm pretty sure there are lots of people that have one now. Halo 3 was "rumored" to be in development at one time. Guess that rumor was true to, same for Killzone 2. Think before you speak.

[Marriot VP]

but if you make enough rumors, eventually one will come true

[Mike134nl]

What happened with the not confusing the costumers with to many SKU's. But if it's true it would be a good move assuming they only downgrade the hard drive.
But for the time being I won't see it happening.

[Vojkan]

I will buy it for sure, if it happeneds. I dont need 80gb, or 200gb, and if in future happeneds that i need more, i will buy bigger HDD.
Great move if they do it, more PS3 will be sold. But they should wait a few more months

[N4GayFanturds]

With Mass Effect, Halo3, CoD4, Too Human, Lost Odyssey, BioShock, Blue Dragon, Huxley, PGR4, Turok, Eternal Sonata, Half-Life2: OrangeBox, ViruaFighter5, Sega Rally Revo, Assasin's Creed, GrandTheftIV,($60x16=$960)ther e's absolutely no reason to buy a PS3 until at least AFTER X-mas.

I know some of these will be released on PS3 as well but to date, the better version has been the 360 AND with online games, the 360 has precedent! So, $399 will be dipping into my games fund for those upcoming titles.

[CrazzyMan]

everyone will decide by themselves, when to get ps3. =)

oh, game lists.. =))
With Turok, Half-Life2: OrangeBox, ViruaFighter5, Sega Rally Revo, Assasin's Creed, GrandTheftIV, NGS, Lair, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, Warhawk, LBP, Folklore, GT5 Prologue, Haze, UT3, Pain, Ratchet, Dirt, Burnout5, NFS, MoH:A, BiA3, CoD4 - with so many games on ps3, i don`t see how anyone will have enough TIME to play ALL of them. =)) Then why to bother about x360?
AND with FREE(!) multiplayer. ;)

p.s. anyone to help return my 4th bubble back? thnx. =)

[BaMYouRDeaD]

Getting rid of the backwards compatibility would be a HUGE mistake. If they can get a 40GB for 399, with BC though, then it would be a great move by Sony. PS3s would fly off shelves.

EDIT:

By the way, they don't have 4 SKUs like everyone is saying. the 20GB is canceled in most markets, and the 60GB is on its way to being canceled. That leaves only two. I prefer having just one SKU, though. It makes things much simpler that way, so kudos to Nintendo.

[BlackIceJoe]

Well I am not sure if this would have any thing to do with this or not but there was the thing with Michael Pachter saying the PS3 would soon be cheaper then what it is now. What if it has to do with this new SKU. As for the part about backwards compatibility I think it is just talking about that the 40 gig would be emulation like the 80 gig only being emulation without the hardware.

[Vojkan]

Hmm this is what one guy said at GamrsCreed
"

*
Posted by Mark, 16 July, 2007 01:58:40
Absolutly not going to happen. The price of 40GB drives are actually MORE expensive that 60GB and 80GB drives, as 80GB is the common laptop configuration these days, so HDD manufacturers are tooled up for 80GB. This is why Sony have moved to 80GB, as it's cheaper than 60GB. The additional cost of producing 2 SKU's is simply not worth it (the 60GB production is finished, it's moved to 80GB now. To introduce a split 40/80 production is very costly). The no backwards compatability is the most insane claim, as this costs Sony nothing to add (as it's done in software), They could in theory remove the GS chip (they have already removed the EE), but a new model in prodiction would be very costly, and the cost of the GS chip is very low (much lower than EE)."

Anyhow i am confused

[Nicosia]

Mmm lets think rationaly, why would they push out the 60 GB version and introduce a whole new 40 GB. Thats not logic, and all that money investing in the new sku. This is a dumb move, they will also abandon there there ''plans'' they promised us.

[Auto426]

Even if this turns out to be true, I doubt Sony would release a PS3 SKU without any backwards compatibility. It wouldn't have the emotion engine in it, but it would definitely have software emulation to play old PS2 and PS1 games.

Other than that, I could see this happening. It would be in direct competition with the Premium 360, and if they include Wi-Fi and the card reader, it would be a much better deal than the Premium, although by the time this SKU would make it to market MS would have had to drop their price.

[Timesplitter14]

Too good to be true IMO. But if it happens, OMG that would be nice.

[rev20]

So by no backwards compatability it means no emotion chip.

Will be all software emulation for backwards compatability as that comes with the firmware updates unless there gonna start bringing out 2 different types of firmware updates which i think is highly unlikely

Achievements is trophys in home this has been known for a while.

[Salvadore]

They had a 20gb at launch, but they decided not to continue manufaturing any more because they lost more money one them. Now they have announced a 80gb model along with a 60gb model. I can see them release one at Christmas (along with SixRumble), but that's very unlikley since I think that they want to gain back profit.

[360RULEZ]

"FF XIII: Word is the game is a mess right now and the localization process is expected to take a year. The game will not come out in Japan until the end of 08"

LOL .. not FFXIII is messed up .. all the ps3 is a mess. waitstation.. HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAA

As for the pricedrop .. if Wii and Xbox have a 100$ pricedrop they'll be affordable at 150$ and 200$ each .. this will spell an end to the waitstation that will be twice as expensive.

sony will lose the pricedrop war.. ;)

[kewlkat007]

but could happen, then again naaawwww

About a FFXIII, that's just wrong. It'll be a lot longer till I get a Ps3. First, they cancel FFVII:Remake..now this one delayed big time.

Is SQ scared of something?

[rev20]

Never intended to remake final fantasy 7 it was just showing what the ps3 was capable of...........

[kewlkat007]

I remember they hinted at the possibilities. with he Tech Demo, I didn't see why not. Anyhow I play lots of RPG's, playing FFVII right now and was willing to get a PS3 with FFVIII.

Seeing that if it comes out in japan later and how late we got the FFVII version, here in the states, it won't be a while till FFVIII comes to the US.

Well I can dream right
http://www.petitiononline.c...

[cdzie1]

If Sony is expecting to tap into the large PS2 ownership base and get them to upgrade to PS3, how can they release a console without backwards compatibility? And isn’t backwards compatibility done by software now that physically costs them nothing? Going from a 60 to a forty GB drive would save Sony $2 to $3 at the most, how would they make up the rest of the $200 price discount?

Too many questions and contradictions.

[The Wood]

thats if you believe everthing you've read. Pass judgement or make comments when SONY announce it. Its the best way to stay sane

[Anything but Cute]

I knew Sony needed a cheaper skew to match more prices with XBOX 360. A 40GB for $399 makes great sense. Many people thought it was dumb to cut out the 20GB cause that could of been their $399. 40GB is even better.

Final Fantasy XIII in fall 08? Yeah, I think everyone knew that.

[Lumbo]

actually it makes absolutely NO sense, as the price difference between a 80gig drive and a 40gig drive is about $10, and thats with the 40gig drive being MORE expensive, cause 80gig 2.5" drives are the norm, and hence cheaper in gross market prices due to the amount of drives build.

And a $10 price difference in parts does not result in a price difference of $200 for the customer in this reality, maybe in yours, but not in everyone else's.

[Cartesian3D]

HDD is the most Cheap piece for production.. I think finding 40GB HDD is more hard than finding 250 GB 2.5" these days..

40 GB SKU is funny .. it wont happen for sure..

many people dont see All specs and just see how many GB s it has..

so making 40 GB will be sth like 20GB sku... no one will buy it..

its just a FUNNY rumor, some rumors are better in term of reality

[Karibu]

First, they have increased the amount of gigs, there's no reason to
lower it. Whish brings us to second point,
20 gis less is not going to lower the price of PS3 by 100$

The 100$ difference between 20gig and 60 gog SKUs was not onlu 40 gig but also memory cardreader and wifi. There's no sense selling PS3 with half of the value. They'd need to sell sh!tload of games per Sku if that was the case.
Besides, only difference from now on is the amount of gigs. And it's for surden that they're only going to increase it.

How FFXIII can be delayed if there isn't even release date given?
Though it would not be suprising if S-E would AGAIN make a game for ages.

[XxZxX]

$399 PS3 with killzone and heavenly sword, rachet and clank, uncharted this coming holiday season will greatly increase PS3 install base

[ElementX]

Killzone isn't out until next year.

[boi]

if its true that good for gamers and wanabe ps3 buyers

[7ero H3LL]

I Have this magazine it dose not say this anywhere.

[texism]

also, something some people might not know is that the PS3 version which got a price drop is going to stop being manufactured. In other words, if you were going to get a PS3, now is the time because after that one runs out, there wont be a price drop for a while...unless of course this bit of info is true.

[goonerfied]

40 gigs that more than enough best $400 i'd ever spend

[Cartesian3D]

and in Xmas they must sell Ps3 80 GB for 399 and bundle with another sixaxis and 1 or 2 games in 499$.. then they will sell more than 5 million units in Xmas alone..

but making another SKU with lower HDD space isnt possible , (SONY MUST be STUPID then :P )

[7ero H3LL]

I am looking at it right now. plus Its taking about E3 where pass that now?

[PS3n360]

Sony fans are getting SKU'd

[Kirderf]

I think it would be better with a 40 gig PS3 for $399 than 80 gig PS3 for $599.

[aiphanes]

let this sale...and slowly drop the price of it by $50 before christmas 2007....then drop another $50 when killzone 2 comes out..then it will be $399...then drop another $100 by Christmas 2008..to $299...and they would have won.

[BIadestarX]

FF XIII! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! where is that katana?..... My life is over... on second though... I will be ok playing lost oddesey until FF XIII desides to show up.

[Cupid-Stunt]

This means a price drop in the uk will happen, i could buy a ps3 for the kitchen hahahahaha that was a lame joke. One is enough :p

[BubblesDAVERAGE]

The new xbox sku has a 20 gb hdd and no one seems to have a problem with it..so MS can make a lower gb sku after making a 120gb hdd but sony cant..either way i dont belive it

[Rhezin]

wow why doesn't Sony get their own ideas and not steal everyone elses. Ps3 achievement lol don't embarass youselves. only 40 gigs and NO backwards compatability? f!ck that

[HaKeRsCanRotINHEL]

For PS3-360: 1-Player Action ( 2-Player Via Playstation Network Or Xbox Live)
Release: 2008
Quoting from Gameinformer issue 172

"The prototype is an entity called Alex Mercer. As the story opens,Alex finds himself on an experimentation table with no memory of his past. Emerging from a mysterious lab( is there any other kind :) onto the bustling streets of New York, it's quickly apparent that he has a deeper mystery to unravel than a bout of amnesia. Whatever he was before, it's now questionable whether he's even human anymore - or if he was in the first place. What sets Mercer apart is the disturbing ability to kill and absorb any person he encounters. Like some terrifying ancient tribal warrior who takes on the power of the enemies he consumes, Alex Mercer doesn't kill for pleaser- he kills to grow, evolve, and learn. As each new person becomes integrated, so too do their memories, their abilities, and their very appearance." SWEET MOTHER MARY, Simply AMAZING! ^_^

I can answer your ques?ions about the game, if you have any.

[M1am1U]

I think MS and Sony are going to SKU themselves into a tailspin of confusion. I'm all about being able to choose what suits you best, but this is getting crazy! People are going to just give up and buy a Wii. Oh wait, that's already happening. Too many choices may ultimately lead to indecision. When presented with one choice, the decision is much easier. Just a thought. 8)

[lil bush]

well a
40gb 399
80gb 499
even though a 40gb is expensive remember this sony is a hardware company so it wont cost them much at all, and it really keeps them competive, and then people cant say its to expensive, and some with some games like

LBP, singstar, Lair, Unchated, HS, Folklore, UT3(timed ex), Haze(timed ex), warhawk, socom, R@C: tod, echocrohme

and some great third parties
assassins creed
COD4
kane & lynch
burnout: paridise
madden 08
guitar hero 3
rock band
MOH: airborne
bia 3: hells highway
army of 2

and xbox 360 has a sick line up as well
and nitendo to me has alot to be worried about as far a games line up..........

[timmyp53]

it doesnt say anything like that.

[zonetrooper5]

Meh 40GB hard drive is pretty crappy, I would pay a little more and get the 80GB PS3 with a few games. It would be much better in the long run, I might also start a rumor sometime, hmmmm....

[Bloodmask]

in its first year. It is possible but highly unlikely. I remember reading in an interview with Sony that they said they couldn't afford another price drop.

As for FF13 that is a shame. This game seems like it has been in development for a while. But it could also not be true and just a rumor.

For people who have both systems and are waiting for FF13, I reccommend Lost Odyssey for 360 as it comes out this year and is said to be just like FF.

[nomad117]

what the future will hold it would be cool sry i was gone so long i had to get a haircut and fill out this job assesment thing

[Anything but Cute]

Personally, I like the idea. Ever since they dropped price to $499, I wished they still had the 20GB so they could of dropped it to $399. I would like to end up seing the 80GB for $499 and a 40GB for $399.

I just think anytime there can be a PS3 sku for $399, it's a good thing. PS3 needs every possible option to try to get closer to XBOX 360's price.

This rumor makes a lot of sense to me. In the end, I think they will end up with 80GB for $499 and 40GB for $399. That's a big improvement

[sevenout]

The rumor has already been proven false as Sony is releasing an 80 Gig PS3 next month and has already stated that the 60 gig is on it's way out.

A 40 Gig hard drive costs more than a 60 or 80 gig these days and with Sony's buying power it's irrelevant anyway. 80 gig will be the standard for the PS3 in the near future.

Personally, I think both Sony and Microsoft showed weakness with the multiple sku systems. They both essentially said that they did not have enough faith in their products at their respective true costs.

Lastly, the EE has already been removed from some current worldwide versions of the PS3. To now say that the PS3 will have NO backwards capability is utterly ridiculous.

[The Karate Kid]

40 Gigs at $399.99 is fantastic!! $499.99 with 80 is fantastic, and this sounds like a terrific idea. Doubt, that it will not have backwards compatibility as they probably mean it will not have the emotion engine chip. I can almost bet cha any amount of money that it will happen in October right before the release of Grand Theft Auto. WOW...talking about moving systems It has to be true because sony can't allow the competitor to offer a cheaper system with Grand Theft Auto coming out. Gamers is going to buy GTA and which ever system is cheapest lol. Just imagine this cheaper system with Home and a new Ruble controller........The possibilities can be endless. Imagine a $399.99 price in Japan or Europe. if I was XBOX I would be worried. If I was Toshiba I would be worried

[PS360PCROCKS]

PLEASE!!!!! My roommate has his PS3 but I don't have mine and if it becomes $399 I am buying one for my room.

[eLiNeS]

NOT!!!

If this is true, I am sure they will sell a few at this price but the majority will have already bought a brand new Xbox 360 with there copy of HALO ][][][ and all the other huge titles coming out before this rumored sku. and loving every minute of it with no more money for a PofS3. Plus, they will want all the games that both systems will get for the achievements on the 360, you get more out of a game with them. If Fony does achievements of some sort, they will try to make it different so there not coping M$ so I am sure it won't be as good, will see.

[hotshot1237]

...

[airforcex]

I own a 360 which currently has the best looking and most fun games; Period! However, $399 is relatively cheap (cheaper than an IPhone). I think I would get one, for Blu-Ray (already own HD DVD). About achievements; what would really rock (and will never happen) is universal acheivements (for all platforms). I will aplaud the $399 price, but fear a few individuals will feel cheated when everything stabilizes. I was one of the many who would have been mad at MS had they dropped the price last Christmas (only 6mo after I paid the full price). I think this may happen after the holidays, and before MGS4 ships. Are you hearing, MS?

[Clinton514]

I'm sick of their made up news and self generated rumors

[TriggerHappy]

STFU. This is from Game informer mag. Buy the mag and u will actually something and If u dont like the stay off it.

[PumPum]

No BC? Well the PAL versions emulate the games so i guess it means no firmware updates either. lol cant be true. And didnt sony say a couple of days ago that they dont want the SKU hassle...?

[StateofMind]

Don't believe it one bit. I don't doubt we'll see a $399 PS3 sooner or later, but a 40GB SKU with no backwards compatibility just isn't happening. The HDD won't be shrinking for cost effectiveness, and they won't leave out software backwards compatibility because that's just pointless.

[e-ray]

I really doubt that there will be a new SKU in this vein (smaller hard drive, no backwards compatibility), but I would put money on it that there will be a $399 PS3 for the holidays. What its specs would be is entirely up in the air.

[Vadim]

You know what sony should do, make 1 ps3 and sell separate harddrives for it in different sizes.

[TruthHurts]

the funny things is MS cant really drop their price as easily as most would think.

what are they going to do buy CHEAPER parts for system that already has problems working, I DONT THINK SO.

On the other hand.........
Sony WILL continue to drop their price by ELIMINATING the emotion engine chip and the cost of BLURAY will start dropping quickly.
and they already have a 1% failure rate, so they CAN mess around a bit.
I wouldn`t be surprised, if in a year/year and a half the ps3 will be SUPER affordable.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

No backwards compatibility???

That's suicide!

There's no way they would put that out!!!

A 200-350 Gig PS3...I could see that...but a 40 Gig with no backwards compatibility??? Do they really think Sony's THAT crazy?

I have a 20 Gig. I've had to erase things...A LOT! I regrettably bought Blast Factor...and Super Stardust HD. Both ohkay games...but NOT LASTING! The only good downloadable game I've bought is Flow. It's very soothing and I love it. It's a complete stoner game, but BUY IT! The next good one I see is...Pain! That looks freakin' AWESOME!!! I don't see MS or Nintendo making their own downloadable titles. They're just putting out old crap! How innovative!

Hey, let's rely on a back-catalog of games for success!!! Yippy...hooray! If I want those games...I can just get emulators for my PC...which I have. I'm not paying 20 bucks for Super Mario 64 and Donkey Kong Country! (both great, but I have them already!!!)

I want NEW games...that have IMPROVED on what the OLD games did!

[codeazrael]

BOTH consoles you launched with only 8 months ago are now being discontinued only to be replaced gutted models? I agree that Sony, instead of removing the ps2 chipset, now at least, they should remove wi fi instead as a hardline connection to your broadband is best. I wonder what else they'll be removing to cut costs. With all of these model changes so early in the PS3's life cycle, it makes people nervous and make them think that Sony doesnt know what they're doing. Instead of just saying upfront that the 60 gig ps3 was being discontinued like the 20 gig before it, instead of getting my Sony friends hopes up and talking about price cut like it was permanent, Sony should've conducted a survey about price points and what features gamers couldve done without the most. The ps2 chipset is a HUUGE selling point to me and to turn your back on the same gamers you told would have all of these features, not to mention the features scrapped even before the system launched that were promised is not good business. Microsoft added skus but they never discontinued one, there is a difference between that and dropping BOTH consoles you launched with in favor of half the system you initially promised.

[sand0789]

They just made a big deal about how MS was wrong with multiple SKU's and they were moving towards 1 because they knew better. A few reps went off on this at E3. I would be surprised if all the sudden they released the 4th SKU in less than a year. That would be just crazy.

[LiquifiedArt]

All you kids that dont understand. If they dropped the standard Harddrive in the ps3 (WHICH THEY WONT!). IT would be the dumbest move since Microsoft made the Core 360 w/o a HDD. Its just not a good idea from a technical standpoint as well as an evolutinary standpoint. Thats moving backwards. So just cause you kiddies "Cant Afford" a ps3, realize its worth the hardwork it takes it get it, and would be a detremental disaster if they listend to the "Cheap" Gamers.

[kornbeaner]

don't release this SKU. It's already one to many being released. then it has no backwards compatibility for $400. That is crazy, that is a suicidal move if I ever heard one. IF they want to release yet another SKU that only plays PS3 format games the price point should be $250-$300 no more. but $400 is to much to ask for what literily comes out to half a machine. Just don't release it. Sales have picked and coming out with a new sku will only confuse consumer and take away whatever trust they might have. Backward compatibility was a big factor in my purchase. So if this SKU is released it would be PS3 genocide as it would be to much change for consumers to take.

[codeazrael]

bubble for you.